Can you change GPs? A GP you can't reach is less useful than a pet rock, imo!
How is she going to know how much you actually take?
Diazepam is not addictive, but dependence may develop after a while so it should be tapered off, not stopped abruptly. This is also true of citalopram.
BTW - 'fun' fact. Every human that has ever lived has been dependent on diazepam and its metabolites. It is one of the naturally occurring BZDs found in all foods [1]. While the quantities we get from food are small, they are not insignificant. Natural BZD plasma levels can reach that of pharmaceuticals in patients with some liver diseases [2] and may become so high that medical intervention is necessary [3]. My guess is benzodiazepines were originally a plant poison to which life, including
Homo sapiens, have become so adapted to that we can no longer function without them.
Diazepam has a long shelf-life,
longer than the date printed on the box. U.S. Army tests found diazepam was still effective
8 years after manufacture (note: Medscape link which may require free registration to view, lets me know if you are unable to and I'll PM you a copy).
As per my previous post, if they sectioned everyone that asked for a BZD, or didn't take their pills as ordered then most of the country would be in locked psych wards, including a lot of psychiatrists and GPs. The medical profession has much higher rates of anxiety and depression than the general public in large part because of its appalling work practices.
There is a genetic component to these disorders and while there is never a guarantee the fact close relatives have responded well to citalopram is likely to improve the odds of it working for you too.
References:
[1]
Muceniece R, Saleniece K, Krigere L, et al. (2008)
Potato (Solanum tuberosum) juice exerts an anticonvulsant effect in mice through binding to GABA receptors.
Planta Med. 2008 Apr;74(5):491-6. (
Abstract)
Kavvadias D, Abou-Mandour AA, Czygan FC, et al (2000)
Identification of benzodiazepines in Artemisia dracunculus and Solanum tuberosum rationalizing their endogenous formation in plant tissue.
Biochem Biophys Res Commun Mar 5;269(1):290-5 (
Abstract)
Sand P, Kavvadias D, Feineis D, et al. (2000)
Naturally occurring benzodiazepines: current status of research and clinical implications.
Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci vol 250(4): p 194-202 (
Abstract)
Kotz U, (1991)
Occurrence of "natural" benzodiazepines.
Life Sci;48(3):209-15 (
Abstract)
Unseld E, Krishna Dr Fischer C, et al (1989)
Detection of desmethyldiazepam and diazepam in brain of different species and plants.
Biochem Pharmacol Aug 1;38(15):2473-8 (
Abstract)
Wildman J, Ranalder U. (1988)
Presence of lorazepam in the blood plasma of drug free rats.
Life Sci. 43(15):1257-60. (
Abstract)
Wildmann J. (1988)
Increase of natural benzodiazepines in wheat and potato during germination.
Biochem Biophys Res Commun. Dec 30;157(3):1436-43. (
Abstract)
Wildmann J, Vetter W, Ranalder UB, et al (1988)
Occurrence of pharmacologically active benzodiazepines in trace amounts in wheat and potato.
Biochem Pharmacol. Oct 1;37(19):3549-59. (
Abstract)
Sangameswaran L, Fales HM, Friedrich P, De Blas AL. (1986)
Purification of a benzodiazepine from bovine brain and detection of benzodiazepine-like immunoreactivity in human brain
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1986 Dec;83(23):9236-40. (
Abstract | Full text -
PDF)
[2]
Baraldi M, Avallone R, Corsi L, et al (2000)
Endogenous benzodiazepines. Therapie Jan-Feb;55(1):143-6 (
Abstract)
[3]
Zeneroli ML, Venturini I, Stefanelli S, et al, (1997)
Antibacterial activity of rifaximin reduces the levels of benzodiazepine-like compounds in patients with liver cirrhosis. Pharmacol Res , Jun;35(6):557-60 (
Abstract)
[Note: no benzodiazepine synthesizing gut flora has been isolated and they almost certainly don't exist in humans]